I arrive pretty late for school the next day but I'm fine with it since I miss the Friday assembly. It's a mufti Friday for charity so I'm dressed casually in a simple plaid shirt, a pair of skinny jeans and my timberland boots.

I go by the reception desk to drop off my donation before heading straight to the biology lab. I'm in no mood to be part of any conversation they may be having in homeroom today.

"Morning Mrs. Miller." I greet as she comes out of the small office attached to the lab.

"How are you doing Ricky?"

"I'm fine thanks."

"You know, you don't have to be here for another fifteen minutes."

"I know." I reply, pretending to be busy with my book bag to avoid any more questions. She takes a seat then and starts working on her laptop.

Before long, everyone else arrives in little groups and she begins the lesson. I try not to zone out too much but it's out of my control.

I can't help thinking of mum; how she's coping at work. I can't stop thinking of my aunt; if she'll get better or suffer from a major stroke instead. Then there's my 'father' who I still have mixed feelings about. The only thing going great for me is the fact that I still have friends that are there for me.

The sound of the bell pulls me back to reality and I place my things in my book bag before heading for literature.

"hey, wait up." I hear as a hand comes in contact with my shoulder.

"Hey." I say giving a half smile.

"Why'd you sneak off to class without me?"

"I did not 'sneak off' as you have just said." I laugh making air quotes. "I just came in really late."

Alex doesn't seem to believe me but he lets it slide.

"Are you doing okay though?" he asks and all I want to do is spill my guts right there to him on the spot but I know I can't; this isn't the place and I'm already getting late for class anyways.

"I'm good." I reply, offering my hand for a fist bump before sauntering off.

"Catch you later." He calls after me so I turn back, whilst still walking and cup my hands over my mouth

"You don't have to let the whole school know you're obsessed with me Alex." I smirk.

"You wish." Comes his reply.

I'm just about to retort with a good comeback when I crash into someone.

"Watch where you're going stutter boy." She smiles.

"Hey." I smile "Sorry about bumping into you."

"It's cool." She replies and without saying anything else, keeps on walking to her next class.

When I get to class, I push the door open with too much force and it crashes hard into the wall behind it. The teacher shoots me a glare but I'm in no mood to apologize. Instead, I stride right past him, toss my book bag on a random table and get settled in beside some chattering students. At least I'm not late, I mutter to myself.

Without further ado, Mr. Gregory stalks up to his laptop which is sitting smugly on his desk and starts clicking away, not saying a word to anybody.

Soon, the opening credits to William Shakespeare's Macbeth get displayed on the smart board. Our teacher then pauses the video, takes a seat, crossing his legs at the ankles and smiles at us.

"Good day class." He greets. "As you all would have noticed by now, we will be watching a version of Macbeth for today's lesson. Please do well to concentrate and be quiet."

Dimming the lights, he clicks play and the class resumes but is so quiet now that you would probably be able to hear a pin drop.

Focusing on the screen, I try to concentrate as well but as I watch the thunder and lightning rolling over that bleak Scottish moor and as I notice the three haggard old witches eerily chanting as they appear out of the storm, my brain seems to act of its own accord and unconsciously, I begin ponder the happenings of my life.

A sudden wave of nostalgia sweeps through me and I pick up my pen, somehow feeling the need to let it out somehow, some way.

Pausing to think for only I second, I put my black ball point pen to work; allowing it to slide gracefully over the back page of my literature notebook.

"The guards are running.

Their feet are padding.

Our lives are fading.

Dystopia is brewing.

Our smiles will get ripped.

Our eyes will cry rivers.

Our ears will be deafened.

Dystopia is brewing.

Our happy traditions,

All taken away.

And with our consent,

Dystopia is brewing.

Fragmented brotherhoods,

All cracked and ruined.

Dispirited motherhoods,

Yes, smashed and ruined.

She'll ask and she'll take.

We'll give and we'll hide.

A taint in the sky,

Dystopia's still brewing..."

As though in a trance, I suddenly snap back into reality and glance at the page. I most definitely did not plan on writing all of that. I'm so pathetic, I think to myself, smiling sadly.

Tearing it up, I scrunch up the page as discreetly as possible and hide it in my book bag. That was one horrible poem, I muse as I fix my eyes on the board once more. The scene shows rolling thunder as the three witches appear once more but this time, near a battlefield.

"Where have you been sister?" one of the witches asks.

"Killing pigs." Another replies and I struggle to understand what went on while I was in my own little world.

Over time though, I finally get the general idea and actually enjoy watching it, sort of.

Letting out a big old involuntary yawn, I stretch my arms as wide as they will go and feel my eyes water as the closing credits roll in. Thank you glare for making my eyes healthier, I think, mentally rolling my eyes.

Mr. Greg picks a stack of papers off his desk and begins passing them round. When I get mine, I see that they are three excerpts of Holinshed's version of the play.

"I need you to go through the papers I have just given you." He says whilst making his way to the front of the class. "Circle any words Raphael Holinshed has used to describe the three witches and write a cohesive paragraph that summarizes your perception of these weird sisters. You must use evidence from the play."

A cacophony of groans and moans erupts from various students and I am hardly surprised when I catch myself grunting.

 Just then the bell goes and I get an earful of the irritating sound that emanates from the scraping of chair legs against tiles as students begin to pack their belongings.

"It's due on Monday." Our teacher announces like it wasn't obvious already. Oh well, better safe than sorry, they say.

Damn that was one long class. Thank goodness I have no more double periods today, I rejoice as I put my bag away before heading to Alex's locker where he is waiting with Mary.

"Took you long enough," she rolls her eyes.

"You know you could have just gone ahead without me right?"

"Obviously." She retorts. "But Alex wanted to wait for you. He figured if we stood here long enough, we'd get a clear view of you going to your locker and you would spot us. Just like old times." She doesn't sound too happy.

"Well, thanks.' I reply curtly.

"Just ignore her mate. She's in a bad mood because she couldn't get one of those rabbits." Alex says and we both start laughing.

"Why not though?" I ask.

"None of your damn business." She replies, storming off.

Looking to Alex, I wait for an explanation but he just shrugs as if to say he doesn't know.

"Well, that went well." I mutter as we head to the cafeteria for lunch.

Mary carries on with her little charade during lunch so much so that she scares Drew off.

However, everyone else just ignores her, allowing her time to sulk. We're all used to her moods and it'll be over soon. All we need is for something dramatic or funny to spark her interest and voila! Mary's back.

Unfortunately, nothing of the sort happens though and soon enough, the bell goes to signal the end of lunch. Making a beeline for the library, I pull out my book, set it open on the table, then I rest my head on my folded arms, settling in for a well-deserved nap, I think.